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Do You Have A Real Estate Or Home-
Ownership Question You Want Answered?
Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you just
need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner or plumber…
Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I’m
always looking to answer pressing questions you might have about
anything
relating to real estate or home-ownership. If you have a question, tip or idea,
please feel free to call me at 805-701-8410. I’m here to help!
Word of the Month…
Studies have shown your income and
wealth are directly related to the size
and depth of your vocabulary. Here is
this month’s word, so you can impress
your friends (and maybe even fatten
your wallet!)…
Querulous:
(kwer-uh-luhs) adj
Meaning:
Having the tendency to
complain or whine
Sample Sentence:
Mom took away my
laptop computer just because of my
querulous opinion about dinner.
Addicted To Overspending?
When an occasional budget-busting
expenditure turns into devastating debt,
it may be time to take drastic measures
to get your money under control. Here
are two tips to curb your urge to spend:
Beware Of Bargains
: Many over-
spenders use the excuse of the
discounted price as the reason for
creating debt. When the cost of
carrying that debt is calculated into the
“bargain,” most of the time those
savings evaporate. This is true at the
department store, warehouse stores and
on Internet sites like eBay.
Replace Indulgences
: The pleasure of
“retail therapy” may be real for you.
But you can find alternative methods of
nurturing your soul. Indulge in things
that satisfy at the soul level instead of
the quick rush of a purchase. Visit a
museum. Go to a festival. Get together
with friends.
Quotes To Live By…
Education begins the gentleman, but
reading, good company and reflection
must finish him.
–
John Locke
Contemplation seems to be about the
only luxury that costs nothing.
–
Dodie Smith
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well
and serenely and with too high a spirit
to be encumbered with your old
nonsense.
–
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who’s Giving Drugs To Kids?
Recent studies reveal that many times drug use in kids begins at home,
while under the care and guidance of parents.
Starting as young as 12, kids are more likely to get prescription or over-
the-counter drugs and alcohol at home than to use “street” drugs. They get
these household drugs in the medicine and liquor cabinets. Here’s how to
approach this situation if your child, or one of their friends, acts suspicious:
Know the facts.
This isn’t just an urban problem. Suburban kids are just
as likely to abuse. Plus, the teenage brain is much more prone to addiction
and susceptible to peer pressure.
Have the drug conversation with your kids.
You can find good
information for the discussion at
www.theantidrug.com
.
To be on the safe side.
Consider locking up the liquor cabinet and
keeping all prescription drugs in a lockbox. Ask your friends and family
members to safeguard their prescription drugs and alcohol as well.
Properly dispose of old medicines.
Don’t just toss them in the waste can.
Smart Technology Tips
Do you need to access information on your home computer when
you’re not at home? You could carry your laptop with you everywhere, but
here are two other convenient ways to access your files on the go:
Get a smart phone or tablet, such as an iPad.
These devices are for
more than just fun and games.
You’ll love the
immediate access to
email, address books, photos, calendars and the Internet, not to mention
thousands of apps (web applications). Depending on your budget,
consider buying a refurbished version of one of these devices, and then
upgrade to a new model after you learn the ropes.
Back up your data.
An online backup service protects you if your
laptop gets stolen or lost. Install the software and your data will be
backed up to the “cloud” (basically the Internet). Easily restore
everything from music to spreadsheets for a flat annual fee.
For a free
backup service that makes it easy to share photos and documents with
friends and family, try
www.dropbox.com
. You can also download
dropbox to a mobile device. Or,
c
heck out
www.carbonite.com
.